Order of Book Series
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Robert E. Howard Books in Order

158 books are credited to Robert E. Howard, published between 1925 and 2026; 131 of them appeared after Robert E. Howard's death in 1936. The first book is Spear and Fang (1925) and the newest is Renegade Swords IV (2026). Publication order is the reading order below.

Robert E. Howard also publishes as John Taverel, Patrick Ervin, Patrick Howard, Patrick Mac Conaire, Sam Walser, Steve Costigan.

Books
158
Published
1925–2026
Confirmed
4 of 158 titles
Pages on record
18,981 in 79 of 158 books
Reading time
316–475 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 18,981 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 79 of 158 titles with a page count on record.

See all 158 books in order Printable Robert E. Howard checklist
Photo of Robert E. Howard, author

Robert E. Howard (January 22, 1906 to June 11, 1936) was an American pulp fiction writer across many genres. Howard created Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of sword and sorcery. Born and raised in Texas, Howard lived mostly in Cross Plains, with some time in nearby Brownwood. A bookish child and a boxing fan, Howard boxed as an amateur and took up bodybuilding in the late teens. Howard wanted to write adventure fiction from the age of nine but found real success only at 23. Early catalogued titles include Spear and Fang (1925), Skull-Face (1929) and Kings of the Night (1930). Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, Cormac Mac Art and James Allison are other series on the author page.

How many Robert E. Howard books are there?

Robert E. Howard has 158 books, released between 1925 and 2026. 131 of them were published after Robert E. Howard's death in 1936. They include 12 series and 93 titles listed outside any series.

Robert E. Howard Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 158 Robert E. Howard books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of The Gods of Bal-Sagoth by Robert E. Howard (1931)
  2. Cover of The Phoenix on the Sword by Robert E. Howard, book 1 of the Dark Storm Conan Chronology series (1932)
  3. Cover of The Scarlet Citadel by Robert E. Howard, book 2 of the Dark Storm Conan Chronology series (1933)
  4. Cover of Black Colossus by Robert E. Howard, book 3 of the Dark Storm Conan Chronology series (1933)
  5. Cover of Rogues in the House by Robert E. Howard, book 4 of the Dark Storm Conan Chronology series (1934)
  6. Cover of Beyond the Black River by Robert E. Howard, book 6 of the Dark Storm Conan Chronology series (1935)
  7. Cover of The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard, book 8 of the Dark Storm Conan Chronology series (1936)
  8. Cover of Black Wind Blowing by Robert E. Howard (1936)
  9. Cover of A Gent from Bear Creek and Other Tales by Robert E. Howard (1937)
  10. Cover of Pigeons from Hell by Robert E. Howard (1938)
  11. Cover of The Hour of the Dragon / Conan the Conquerer by Robert E. Howard, book 1 of the Conan (Donald M. Grant) series
  12. Cover of Conan the Barbarian by Robert E. Howard, book 5 of the Conan (Gnome Press) series (1954)
  13. Cover of Always Come Evening by Robert E. Howard (1957)
  14. Cover of The Dark Man and Others by Robert E. Howard (1963)
  15. Cover of Conan the Adventurer by Robert E. Howard, book 1 of the Conan (Lancer/Ace) series (1966)
  16. Cover of King Kull by Robert E. Howard (1967)
  17. Cover of Wolfshead by Robert E. Howard (1968)
  18. Cover of Savage Sword Of Conan, book 1 of the Savage Sword of Conan series (1974)
  19. Cover of The People of the Black Circle by Robert E. Howard, book 2 of the Conan (Donald M. Grant) series (1974)
  20. Cover of Cormac Mac Art by Robert E. Howard (1974)
  21. Cover of The Lost Valley of Iskander by Robert E. Howard (1974)
  22. Cover of Worms of the Earth by Robert E. Howard, book 2 of the Bran Mak Morn series (1975)
  23. Cover of Red Nails by Robert E. Howard, book 5 of the Conan (Donald M. Grant) series (1975)
  24. Cover of Swords of Shahrazar by Robert E. Howard (1976)
  1. 1
    Spear and Fang1925 · confirmed 2/4
    1925–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    In the Forest of Villefere1926 · confirmed 2/4
    1926–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Skull-Face1929 · confirmed 2/4
    1929–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    The Iron Man1930 · confirmed 2/4
    1930–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    The Fearsome Touch of Death1930 · confirmed 2/4
    1930–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Waterfront Fists1930 · confirmed 2/4
    1930–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Kings of the Night1930 · confirmed 2/4
    1930–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    The Voice of El-Lil1930 · confirmed 2/4
    1930–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    The Gods of Bal-Sagoth1931 · 235 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1931235
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    The Blood of Belshazzar1931 · confirmed 2/4
    1931–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    The Phoenix on the SwordDark Storm Conan Chronology #11932 · 48 pages · confirmed 2/4
    193248
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    The Scarlet CitadelDark Storm Conan Chronology #21933 · 52 pages · confirmed 2/4
    193352
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Black ColossusDark Storm Conan Chronology #31933 · 188 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1933188
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    The Lion of Tiberias1933 · confirmed 2/4
    1933–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Black Talons1933 · 38 pages · confirmed 2/4
    193338
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Rogues in the HouseDark Storm Conan Chronology #41934 · 48 pages · confirmed 2/4
    193448
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Shadows In The MoonlightDark Storm Conan Chronology #51934 · confirmed 2/4
    1934–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    The Tomb's Secret1934 · confirmed 2/4
    1934–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Fangs of Gold1934 · confirmed 2/4
    1934–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Names In The Black Book1934 · 48 pages · confirmed 2/4
    193448
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    The Daughter of Erlik Khan1934 · confirmed 2/4
    1934–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Beyond the Black RiverDark Storm Conan Chronology #61935 · 352 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1935352
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Shadows In ZamboulaDark Storm Conan Chronology #71935 · confirmed 2/4
    1935–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Hawk of the Hills1935 · 68 pages · confirmed 2/4
    193568
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Blood of the Gods1935 · confirmed 2/4
    1935–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    The Hour of the DragonDark Storm Conan Chronology #81936 · 196 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1936196
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Black Wind Blowing1936 · 48 pages · confirmed 2/4
    193648
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    A Gent from Bear Creek and Other Tales1937 · 222 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1937222
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    A Gent from Bear Creek1937 · confirmed 2/4
    1937–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Pigeons from Hell1938 · 48 pages · confirmed 2/4
    193848
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Robert E. Howard series and characters in order

Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.

Robert E. Howard books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.

Conan (Donald M. Grant) in order

10 books
  1. 1. The Hour of the Dragon / Conan the Conquerer
  2. 2. The People of the Black Circle
  3. 3. A Witch Shall Be Born
  4. 4. The Tower of the Elephant
  5. 5. Red Nails
  6. 6. Conan in The Devil in Iron
  7. 7. Rogues in the House Conan
  8. 8. Queen of the Black Coast
  9. 9. Jewels of Gwahlur
  10. 10. The Pool of the Black One

Dark Storm Conan Chronology in order

8 books
  1. 1. The Phoenix on the Sword
  2. 2. The Scarlet Citadel
  3. 3. Black Colossus
  4. 4. Rogues in the House
  5. 5. Shadows In The Moonlight
  6. 6. Beyond the Black River
  7. 7. Shadows In Zamboula
  8. 8. The Hour of the Dragon

Conan (Lancer/Ace) in order

8 books
  1. 1. Conan the Adventurer
  2. 2. Conan the Warrior
  3. 3. Conan the Usurper
  4. 4. Conan the Conqueror
  5. 5. Conan the Avenger
  6. 7. Conan
  7. 8. Conan the Freebooter
  8. 10. Conan of Cimmeria

Weird Works Of in order

8 books
  1. 1. Shadow Kingdoms
  2. 2. Moon of Skulls
  3. 3. People of the Dark
  4. 4. Wings in the Night
  5. 7. Beyond the Black River
  6. 8. Hours of the Dragon
  7. 9. Black Hounds of Death
  8. 10. A Thunder of Trumpets

Conan (Gnome Press) in order

6 books
  1. 2. The Sword of Conan
  2. 3. King Conan
  3. 4. The Coming of Conan
  4. 5. Conan the Barbarian
  5. 6. Tales of Conan
  6. 7. The Return of Conan

Renegade Swords in order

4 books
  1. 1. Renegade Swords
  2. 2. Renegade Swords II
  3. 3. Renegade Swords III
  4. 4. Renegade Swords IV

Bran Mak Morn in order

3 books
  1. 1. Bran Mak Morn
  2. 2. Worms of the Earth
  3. 3. The Last King

Conan The Cimmerian in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian
  2. 2. The Bloody Crown of Conan
  3. 3. The Conquering Sword of Conan

Dark Man in order

2 books
  1. 1. The Dark Man
  2. 2. The Dead Remember

James Allison in order

2 books
  1. 1. Valley of the Worm
  2. 2. The Garden of Fear

Conan (Ace Maroto 1978-1981) in order

2 books
  1. 2. Treasure Of Tranicos
  2. 4. The Flame Knife

Savage Sword of Conan in order

1 book
  1. 1. Savage Sword Of Conan

Cormac Mac Art in order

1 book
  1. 1. Tigers of the Sea

Standalone books

93 books

93 Robert E. Howard titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Robert E. Howard books in order?

You only need to read Robert E. Howard books in order within each series: the books listed here span 12 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Robert E. Howard

Start with the first book of the Robert E. Howard series you want to read: Solomon Kane starts with The Moon of Skulls (1968), Conan starts with The Hour of the Dragon / Conan the Conquerer (1950) and Conan the Barbarian starts with The Hour of the Dragon / Conan the Conquerer (1950). The earliest catalogued title overall is Spear and Fang (1925).

What is the newest Robert E. Howard book?

Renegade Swords IV (2026) is the newest Robert E. Howard book released so far.

Is there a new Robert E. Howard book coming?

No next Robert E. Howard book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Award nominations for Robert E. Howard

Wikidata records 2 nominations for Robert E. Howard. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

  • British Fantasy Award for Best Collection2002Shortlistedfor The Conan Chronicles, 2
  • British Fantasy Award for Best Collection2001Shortlistedfor The Conan Chronicles, 1

Robert E. Howard at a glance

Died
Robert E. Howard died in 1936, according to Wikidata.
After death
Books credited to Robert E. Howard are still being published after Robert E. Howard's death in 1936; the newest appeared in 2026.
Release pace
Robert E. Howard books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
18,981 pages across the 79 of 158 books with a recorded length, a median of 216 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Robert E. Howard books, 41 of 158, were published in the 1970s.

What the Robert E. Howard books are about

81 of the 158 Robert E. Howard books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: fantasy is tagged on 33 of 81. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.